Mary Kom’s uphill journey to fame made a compelling story for filmmakers. Pictured, Mary Kom, center, posed for a photograph with Deepika Padukone, left, and Vijay Kumar, right, in Mumbai, Aug. 23.

From a small village in Manipur state to the Olympic podium, boxer Mary Kom has been an inspiration to many.

In the works is also a film based on her life story.

“It’s quite flattering to have a movie made on one’s life story and I am glad that people everywhere will get to hear and see my story now,” Ms. Kom told India Real Time.

“Hopefully, it can inspire more talent to rise above difficulties, perceived and real, to become world champions and do the country proud,” she added.

Directed by filmmaker Omung Kumar, the film traces Ms. Kom from the early days for her boxing career and her personal life. A mother of twins boys, Ms. Kom is happily married.

“It is the first time a female boxer has won five boxing championship and nobody knows about it,” says Omung Kumar, the director of the film.

Last month, Ms. Kom shot to fame winning bronze in the women’s 51-kilogram flyweight boxing, one of a handful of medals for India at the 2012 London Olympics.

But the journey that lead her to an Olympic medal has been an uphill one. She had to overcome economic difficulties and her family’s resistance to pursue her dream of becoming a professional boxer.

For filmmakers, this made for a compelling story. “I thought her life is a brilliant story to be converted into celluloid,” says Saiwyn Quadras, the writer of the film. He explained that in a male-dominated society like India, a woman scaling new heights while her husband managed the family is a rare sight.

While shooting for the film is expected to start early next year, Mr. Kumar says the cast still hasn’t been finalized. Finding a fitting female lead can be challenging as the role will require the actress to undergo physical and boxing training – not the kind of thing Bollywood’s actress are normally required to do.

“Whoever comes on board, it is going to be difficult for her,” says Mr. Kumar.